Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority
ACHIEVEMENT • OVERVIEW SHEET
What is this skill?
Achievement is a word that we hear throughout our lives – at school and in our organizations, from
our families and in the media. While others may set standards for us, achievement as an EI skill
means having a high personal set of standards that we set for ourselves. These standards provide us
direction and help us seek continual improvement. These standards mean something special to us.
We set goals and take smart risks in order to achieve what we want.
EI Competencies (Note: The italicized competencies complement this skill)
Self-Awareness
Emotional Self-Awareness
Accurate Self-Assessment
Self-Confidence
Social Awareness
Empathy
Organizational Awareness
Service
Self-Management
Emotional Self-Control
Transparency
Adaptability
Achievement
Initiative
Optimism
Relationship Management
Inspirational Leadership
Influence
Developing Others
Change Catalyst
Conflict Management
Building Bonds
Teamwork and Collaboration
To be successful with this program you need the following:
Worksheets:
Goal Arenas
My Goals
Materials:
Flipchart paper and markers
Masking tape
To be successful with this program you need to prepare in advance:
Leave 2-3 pages of flipchart paper blank. Then write the following scale on a page:
1 (Easy) – 3 (Fairly Easy) – 5 (Fairly Hard) - 7 (Hard)
Facilitation Tip:
Spend a few minutes reviewing the different arenas for goals and jot down notes to
yourself for goals that you already have or might want for the future in each of these
areas. By doing this, you’ll have personal examples to give and also be able to answer
any questions that are asked about the different goal areas.
Estimated Length of Time for this Module:
45 minutes
Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority
ACHIEVEMENT MODULE GUIDE
Introduction • 5 minutes
Ask members to call out what words or phrases come to mind in
response to the following: “What do you think of when I say the
word achievement?”
Record responses on a flipchart. Ask for observations about the
collection of ideas and feelings shared. Note whether they are
mostly positive, negative, or neutral. Share the following thoughts
with members (feel free to put in your own words).
“Achievement is a word that we become familiar with through
school, organizations, community life, and family. Sometimes others ask us to achieve – like
parents, teachers, or friends. We can also set standards for ourselves. Achievement as an EI skill
means having a high personal set of standards. Setting goals and taking smart risks are crucial parts
of achievement. “
Areas for Goals • 5 minutes
Ask members to take a minute to review the worksheet Goal Arenas.
• Personal - Goals relating to character development and personal growth.
• Health - Goals relating to exercise, appearance, diet, and overall well-being.
• Recreation - Goals relating to relaxation, hobbies, vacations, and fun activities.
• Friends/Family - Goals relating to your friends, parents, siblings, and relatives.
• Community - Goals relating to a commitment to serve others through our time, talent, and
possessions.
• Career - Goals relating to school, skill development, and future ambitions.
• Financial - Goals relating to earnings, savings, and understanding the value and purpose of
money.
• Spiritual - Goals relating to faith, spiritual growth, and the strengthening of your beliefs.
Share with members the importance of having goals in the context of the EI skill of achievement –
knowing where you are headed in these different areas benefits you and those around you, especially
if you’re in a leadership position. Having goals gives you purpose and direction. This list of eight
areas also suggests that if we have goals in each arena, then we are more likely to live a fulfilling life.
If we only think about achievement in terms of school or career, then we’re missing out on a lot that
life has to offer. In this way, achievement is also related to living a balanced life.
Setting Personal Standards • 20 minutes
Ask members to think about goals that they have for themselves. On the My Goals worksheet, ask
them to jot down a few notes under the first question. After a few minutes, ask members to partner
with someone nearby and share at least two goals that they thought about. As they discuss their
goals, ask them to note which of the eight areas the goal falls under.
After 5 minutes, ask members to look at the bottom half of My Goals worksheet at the pie chart.
Ask members to fill in their pie chart with at least one goal for each slice of the pie. If they would
like to copy what they wrote on the top of the page into the appropriate slice, they can.
Be Successful • 10 minutes
The most successful people are those who set goals and achieve them. This seems like a no-brainer,
but the reality is that it’s easy to set goals and hard to see them through to the end. One reason for
this is that we might not know how to set good goals. Ask members what makes a good goal. Post
responses on a flipchart. Be sure to add the following if they are not offered:
• Written
• Time specific (a date is given for when the goal will be accomplished)
• Desirable
• Realistic
• Stated positively (“I will exercise 3 times a week.” Not “I don’t want to be lazy anymore.”)
Another factor for setting goals that you can achieve is having some that are challenging. Certain
goals are easy to accomplish, and these are important to have so that we can build our confidence
and know we’re making progress. But the REALLY important goals are those that require us to
take some risks. These goals are more challenging – not so big that they paralyze us, but hard
enough to make us work. When we achieve these goals, we know we’ve done really good work.
As you look at your pie chart, try to rate your goals. Show the flipchart with the scale from 1 – 7.
Give 2-3 minutes for members to rate their goals. The number can go anywhere in the slice of pie.
To achieve the most, you should have a mix of goals along this spectrum. If you have a majority of
goals at one end of the spectrum or the other, try to re-think some of the goals so that you have a
better mix. If all the goals are easy, you won’t be as motivated to accomplish them or you won’t
accomplish as much as you are capable of. If, however, they’re all hard, you may get frustrated by
not making any progress.
Wrap-up • 5 minutes
Consider this…
Nydia M. Velazquez grew up in a rural area surrounded by mountains. Born in Yabucoa, Puerto
Rico, she says that she was always asking herself what was behind those mountains. At age 16,
Velazquez was already a freshman at the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras. She graduated
Magna Cum Laude in 1974, with a bachelor's degree in Political Science, went on to earn a master's
degree in Political Science from New York University, and in 1981, she joined the faculty of Hunter
College at the City University of New York. In November 1992, after months of running a
grassroots campaign of pounding the pavement, making phone calls and garnering support from
family, friends, and the predominately Puerto Rican community, Velazquez won the seat of U.S.
Representative. She is the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the United States House of
Representatives. If we need a reminder of what setting goals can do for you, we should keep in
mind Representative Nydia Velazquez.
Unless otherwise attributed, all material is written and edited by Karyn Nishimura Sneath (Npower) and Marcy Levy Shankman (MLS Consulting). ©
Copyright shared with Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority. All Rights reserved. You may reprint material from this document in other electronic or print
publications provided the above copyright notice. Original artwork by JT Williams.
Goal Arenas
Personal
Goals relating to character development and personal growth
Health
Goals relating to exercise, appearance, diet, and overall well-being
Recreation
Goals relating to relaxation, hobbies, vacations, and fun activities
Friends/Family
Goals relating to your friends, parents, siblings, and relatives
Community
Goals relating to a commitment to serve others through our time, talent, and
possessions
Career
Goals relating to school, skill development, and future ambitions
Financial
Goals relating to earnings, savings, and understanding the value and purpose of
money
Spiritual
Goals relating to faith, spiritual growth, and the strengthening of your beliefs
My Goals
Goals that are important to me today are:
1.
2.
3.